WWI Mod Kaiserschlacht - Level General

[GeneralWerner]

Starting soon ...

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I still need some time to get familiar with the mod and with the whole WWI scenario.

@BiteNibbleChomp: What do you recommend? I would go for the 75 rounds Grand European Map.

[BiteNibbleChomp]

@BiteNibbleChomp: What do you recommend? I would go for the 75 rounds Grand European Map.

I would suggest you go for the main campaign, particularly the 1914 start. If you go for the Grand Europe map, you don't get to invade America

- BNC

[JimmyC]

I'm glad you took up the challenge GW, as i don't think i could find the time to do it. I'm looking forward to following your progress.

[GeneralWerner]

A letter from Aachen, July 1914

Liebe Hermine,
endlich finde ich Zeit, Dir zu schreiben. Wir sind bereit … and everybody here is looking forward to attack our old archenemy France. Last week I was promoted to a Rittmeister of the German Cavalry and I order now my own company. Generalfeldmarschall von Moltke is following a very brave strategy in the west. I can’t tell more about it but I guess you will read about it soon in all German newspapers. If it is working it will end the war in the west quickly. Maybe I can visit you already at Christmas time. We are all very eager to start our campaign.
With kind regards
Karl

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[GeneralWerner]

A letter from the western front, September 27. 1914

Dear Hermine,
I am really in great worries about our campaign. Everything started perfect in August. We captured the Belgian city Liege with our superior artillery and went quickly to Antwerp and Brussels. My company was indeed the first that reached the city borders of Antwerp and together with our infantry we captured the city quickly. Do you wonder why I am in Belgium?

That was Generalfeldmarschall von Moltke’s foolhardy plan. By quickly defeating Paris we will avoid the war on two fronts. After we have won in the west we can send all our troops to support the Austrians against Russia and Serbia. The only danger was that we had to occupy the neutral Belgium to bypass the strong French defense positions. And that led automatically to a war with England that was protecting Belgium. You know what I think about a war with the British Empire.

And our plan failed. First we attacked France from the north and stroke deep in the enemy’s country. We even captured Reims and there were only some 60 km missing to reach Paris. But then at the Marne River strong French armies attacked our right wing and stopped us. Our western armies even were in the danger to be cut off and encircled and we had to retreat.

Strong French counter attack at the Marne River. We could capture and hold all objectives but we failed to defeat all French regiments.

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And that is now the crazy situation that we do not march to the south anymore but to the north to reach the coast. Dear Hermine, do not tell this to anybody but I fear that this defeat at the Marne in the second month of the war already has sealed our upcoming defeat in the west.

But do not give up the hope. Our new military leader General von Falkenhayn and our Kaiser will find a way to turn the tide again.

With kind regards
Karl

[BiteNibbleChomp]

Sounds like you're having a rough time. And so you know, in this mod all units are divisions, not regiments .

If you haven't yet played Race to the Sea, I suggest a few more fast units (cavs). You will really want them there (and you'll get a chance to crank up the XPs before you upgrade to armoured cars)

Also, what are your plans for 1915? (I'll give you another chance to kick France out of the war in 1918)

- BNC

[GeneralWerner]

A letter from Dunkirk, October 13. 1914

Dear Hermine,
thank you for your encouraging letters in the last weeks. I know you did not give up the hope and that must have helped us indeed. Von Falkenhayn’s new strategy was to reach the coast before the French and British could get there. We could capture some important harbors and have a stable front in the northern part of France.

It was a hard race and especially our Cavalry was challenged to get in advance of the enemy and cut them off from the coast.

And we did it. It was a great victory. So new hope came up after our retreat from the Marne River.

October 5. 1914. The day that brought the decision: The German troops were able to cut off the enemy. Red: Attacking / Blue: Defending / Yellow: Enemy deciding to give up the race to the coast and changing direction to attack the German troops. Result: The French and British troops were attacked from north, east, south and annihilated in the cross fire while the German Cavalry rushed to the coastal cities.

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There are rumors that we will leave the western front soon to support Hindenburg in the east. I fear we will not see us over Christmas. Nobody will get holiday from the front in this winter 14/15.

With kind regards
Karl

[BiteNibbleChomp]

Poland next then. Hopefully you can DV that one to go to Moscow (I have left a gift in Moscow for you).

Also, why not visit Hermine as you take the train through Germany on your way to the east?

- BNC

[JimmyC]

Hi GW,

I am interested to hear your thoughts on how this mod plays out, compared to the Battlefield Europe mod.

[GeneralWerner]

September 1915, Report of the German OHL (Oberste Heeresleitung)

In May 1915 the invasion of Poland has begun.

The plan is to use four armies and invade Poland from west to east. The three northern armies are German troops. The southern army are Austrian-Hungarian troops.

Red: Planned attacks

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General Hindenburg has decided not to use the new Gas artillery near the fortress of Novo-Georgievsk with the comment: “May be it is an inevitable fact of history that these awful weapons will be used against soldiers in this war but I will not be the first to do this.”

The German attack from west to east went quickly and straight forward supported by the strong German artillery and fighter planes. The Austrians had serious problems and their offensive was indeed stopped by Russian enforcements (mainly Cavalry) and the strong artillery defense in Lemberg (city in the south east corner of the map).

Hindenburg has ordered forced march for the German troops to move to the south hindered by countless Russian Cavalry enforcements. Finally in September 15 the Germans reached Lemberg and attacked the city together with the weakened Austrian troops.

September 15: Strongly decimated Austrian troops attack from the west while the main strike is done by German troops from the northwest after the barrage of the German artillery has weakened the Russian artillery.

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Mid of September 1915 Poland was complete occupied and the defeated Russian troops were fleeing to the east preparing for the defense of the Russian motherland.

While in the west the front is frozen in a trench warfare in the east with this great victory for Hindenburg the gates of Moscow stand open for 1916!

[BiteNibbleChomp]

General Hindenburg has decided not to use the new Gas artillery near the fortress of Novo-Georgievsk with the comment: “May be it is an inevitable fact of history that these awful weapons will be used against soldiers in this war but I will not be the first to do this.”

Novo-Georgievsk wasn't the first time gas was used in combat - Bolimov in Feb. 1915 was.

While in the west the front is frozen in a trench warfare in the east with this great victory for Hindenburg the gates of Moscow stand open for 1916!

Let the march to the east begin!

- BNC

[GeneralWerner]

August 1916, A letter from Moscow

Dear Hermine,
I am writing this letter from the hospital near Moscow. No need to be frighten. It is a painful but not dangerous injury.

My car was hit by a Russian weapon called tank. I have not seen something like that before. It looked scary but it was not very powerful. It went quickly out of ammo and we hunted it down with our cars and infantry.

The Russian Tsar tank. The two front weels have a diameter of 9(!) meters.

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Yes you have red correctly. I have changed my beloved horse with an armored car. We are much quicker now. I guess quick motorized troops will be the future of modern warfare. And also these tanks look interesting.

We have crushed all Russian armies around Moscow. And more good news. The Romanians are joining our side in the war. The war is going really well in the east.

April 1916: The German armies prepare to encircle Moscow from North, west and south. Red: Planned attacks.

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Rumors tell that our troops will be sent to the west where the French and British become stronger and stronger every month.

Good news. We will see us soon. I will come home to cure my injuries. I count the days to see you again.

With kind regards
Karl

[BiteNibbleChomp]

IIRC you should have captured a couple of Tsar Tanks. Also, where will you be heading in the later part of 1917?

- BNC

[GeneralWerner]

The OHl rates tanks as not very useful

It is clear. We will end the war in the east and help Lenin to end the monarchy in Russia.

[BiteNibbleChomp]

Well the OHL may regret that decision when the time comes to break the stalemate in the west! (and I highly doubt you can make it to America without tanks - I used about 8 when testing that mission)

- BNC

[GeneralWerner]

End of April 1917. A letter from Arras.

Dear Hermine,
I never thought I would see the hell but I did. Begin of April 17 we enforced the western German front near Arras. The British tried to break our defense by all means. Only 18 days but I will never forget this battle – better name it slaughter - in my whole life.

The enemy outnumbered us in all weapon types except artillery. Hindenburg has ordered four additional divisions of medium artillery.

The British troops are outnumbering the Germans with infantry and tanks. But the Germans have more artillery. Who will first destroy or successfully suppress the enemy artillery (yellow / blue) may get the crucial advantage.

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For more than two weeks in any minute of the battle I thought I would die or even worser cutted to pieces. The British infantry stormed against our trenches and forts without any pause. Hundreds of British Mk 1 tanks crawled like a wall of steel in our direction. Dozens of enemy planes ruled the sky. I saw our Zeppelins burning and crashing down on our own trenches.

The barrage of the artilleries made me nearly numb. The enemy was approaching slowly but unstoppable. They targeted our artillery and suppressed it again and again. That was always a critical point because our infantry in the trenches was uncovered.

Hindenburg’s plan worked. We were able to weaken and destroy one enemy artillery division after the other in artillery duels. But in the meantime the enemy infantry broke our lines at two positions.

It was April 15. when all our hopes seemed to fade away. In the south and in the center the enemy broke in our lines and threatened to break even through our lines. In that case nobody of us would have survived this day. The whole battlefield in the center was crowded with enemy tanks.

April 15 in the very south the British have destroyed the German defense and try to move in the back of the German front.

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April 15 southwest of Guenappe the crucial battle is fought. The British break in the defense line with enormous fire power.

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But the wonder happened (thanks to Hindenburg and our artillery). Our lines in the center were shaken but they didn’t break. In the north and in the south we repelled the attacks and were able to move more and more troops in the center.

In the end the enemy was annihilated and it was a great victory, but several hundred thousands of soldiers died in that two weeks.

Generalfeldmarschall von Falkenhayn has decided to send us back to the east and finish the Russians. We fight for Kaiser and Vaterland ... but I really hope that this war is over soon.

With kind regards
Karl

[Akkula]

Nice reports general. Keep them coming!

[JimmyC]

Indeed. I really like the style of story writing. It makes it really interesting.

[goose_2]

Agreed, I really find them entertaining.

[GeneralWerner]

March 1918, OHL report

VICTORY! The war in the east is over. With the help of Wladimir Iljitsch Lenin and his Soviets the Russian troops were defeated. More than one million German soldiers can now move to the west to support the fight against the British and French troops.

The OHL has decided to start operation Michael to make the crucial break through against the Entente troops. If successful it will change the war in the west. The German Kaiser said: “The blood must flow, a lot of blood.”

The OHL has decided to upgrade all troops with elite replacement. We count more on the quality of our troops than on their number. Two siege artillery divisions are at the front. A heavy Paris gun on the way. In the southern part of the front two German Panzer divisions will fight for the first time in this war.

March 1918: Order of battle of operation Michael. Red: Attacking / Blue: Defending. The German troops will focus on two attack points. Arras in the north and Peronne in the center. After the break through we will cut off the French troops in the south, strike in the direction of Amiens and encircle and destroy the British troops in the north.

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